Ukraine Exposes Russian “Shadow Fleet” Transporting Grain, Oil and LNG Amid Ongoing Maritime Conflict

Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) released a list of 26 vessels that Russia uses to move grain seized from occupied Ukrainian territories, Russian crude and petroleum products, and LNG from the Arctic LNG 2 project. The fleet includes:

United24 MediaRussia transports oil and stolen grain on 26 ships — intelligence has released the data Foreign PolicyThe Guardian

• Oil tankers for Lukoil, Rosneft, Surgutneftegaz, Novatek, Tatneft and Gazprom, loading at Black Sea and Baltic ports.

Russia transports oil and stolen grain on 26 ships — intelligence has released the data

• Bulk carriers exporting grain from Berdiansk, Sevastopol, Kerch and Feodosia.

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• LNG carriers linked to the floating storage unit SAAM FSU (IMO 9915090).

Russia transports oil and stolen grain on 26 ships — intelligence has released the data

HUR noted that 18 of the vessels are not subject to sanctions. Examples are the bulk carrier LAMAR S, which loaded wheat at Sevastopol in 2026 and shipped it to Syria, and the cargo ship NAYA FALCON, which moved wheat bran from Sevastopol to Egypt and Cyprus the same year.

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Since Russia’s 2022 invasion, it has used occupied ports in Crimea for export. Ukrainian unmanned-systems forces have struck roughly 220 vessels in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov by early August 2026, prompting Russia to suspend commercial traffic through the Kerch Strait.

The GuardianUnited24 MediaRussia transports oil and stolen grain on 26 ships — intelligence has released the data Foreign Policy

The UN-brokered Black Sea grain initiative (July 2022 – July 2023) collapsed after the Kremlin declined renewal, and Kyiv reopened the route, relying on sea drones to target Russian ships.

The Guardian

The United States sanctioned the Arctic LNG 2 project in 2023; Russia responded by expanding a “shadow fleet” that employs floating storage, ship-to-ship transfers and additional vessels to move LNG to Asian markets. The EU plans a ban on Russian LNG imports effective January 1 2027.

Foreign PolicyRussia transports oil and stolen grain on 26 ships — intelligence has released the data United24 MediaThe Guardian

• HUR – Published the 26-vessel list, highlighting the lack of sanctions on most ships.

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• Commander Robert “Madyar” Brovdi – Reported 205 Russian cargo vessels struck since early July.

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• Kyiv’s diplomatic overture – Ukraine proposed a mutual halt to attacks on civilian ships; Russia has not responded.

The Guardian

• U.S. Vice President JD Vance – On July 31, said Ukrainian strikes on Kazakhstan-origin oil tankers were harming U.S. companies and oil-price stability, urging Zelenskyy to curb the attacks.

The Guardian

• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy – Described a “massive” attack on Novorossiysk, claiming destruction of warships and grain-export terminals.

The Guardian

• Vessel-strike counts – HUR cites 205 vessels; the Guardian estimates “nearly 220.”

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• Shadow-fleet size – UNN lists 26 vessels involved in grain, oil and LNG transport, while Foreign Policy notes the LNG-specific fleet grew from nine to 23 vessels between 2024 and mid-2026, indicating overlapping but not identical subsets.

Foreign Policy

• The EU’s LNG ban on January 1 2027 will increase Russia’s reliance on its shadow fleet and Chinese terminals such as Beihai and the upcoming Longkou facility.

Foreign Policy

• U.S. officials are considering expanding sanctions to target vessels in the LNG trade and applying secondary sanctions on Chinese entities like PipeChina that operate key receiving terminals.

Foreign Policy

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The Guardian

*This article synthesizes information from Ukrainian intelligence releases, United 24 Media, The Guardian, UNN and Foreign Policy. All figures and statements are attributed to the entities that provided them.*

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